Much more effective than the Bretons, Aviron Bayonnais won this Saturday evening on the lawn of Vannes. A final victory with a score of 27-21 for the Basques, who consolidate their place in the top 6. For the RCV, who remain bottom of the Top 14, it is another defeat at home.
Bayonne asserts its ambitions. Winner, this Saturday afternoon, of a second away match this season (21-27), the club coached by Grégory Patat thus consolidates its place in the top six. The Bayonnais scored three tries in the first half, even though they did not have much of the ball. For its part, the RCV, not effective enough near the opposing goal, remains last.
In the Breton winter, the first period was generally lively and rather pleasant. It was the locals who held the ball the most (64% possession), but they had a lot of difficulty finishing their highlights near the lines. Facing the Basque wall, it was Maxime Lafage who was responsible for scoring his team's first points (3-0, 4th then 6-7, 27th). The Bretons, generous in their effort, however had to wait until half an hour into the game to score a try. It was signed Paul Surano, in the corner (11-14, 37th).
Vannes held the ball for a long time, but only scored eleven points, even though Jean-Noël Spitzer's players played half of the first period in numerical superiority. Indeed, the Bayonne team, very undisciplined (11 penalties conceded in the first period), received two yellow cards for repeated fouls (Manu Tuilagi in the 14th, Esteban Capilla in the 28th).
This did not prevent Baptiste Chouzenoux's partners from being terribly effective. Of the rare chances they had during this first act, three tries were scored. The first, signed Lucas Martin (3-7, 6th), arrived after a big counter ruck from the sky and white forwards. The second, scored half an hour into the game by Sireli Maqala (6-14, 32nd), came following a nice breakthrough from Cheikh Tiberghien in midfield. Finally, it was Rodrigo Bruni, in force, who allowed the visitors to take the lead at the break (11-21, 40+1). Note that this try followed an error by Michael Ruru, who conceded a scrum after taking too long to play the ball out of a ruck.
Bayonne dreamed of the bonus, but will be satisfied with victory
The second half was of less quality. Initially, it was the scorers who mainly spoke. Maxime Lafage for Vannes (14-21, 42nd), then Joris Segonds on the Bayon side (14-24, 46th then 14-27, 53rd) moved the score.
Although somewhat behind in the score, RC Vannes, pushed by their audience, made incredible efforts to get back into the game. The Bretons had a long sequence near the sky and white goal, around the hour mark. They had a series of scrums or hand penalties. Michael Ruru was, logically, refused a try for having scored in two stages (66th). A moment later, Mateo Carreras got his hands on the ball, after a small side charge from Sione Kalamafoni and Rowing let out a sigh of relief (68th).
The visitors even had ammunition to hope for an improved victory. On a throw-in five meters from the Breton goal, following a magnificent 50-22 from Cheikh Tiberghien, Andy Bordelai failed to score, because of the good defense of Michael Ruru (73rd). We finally had to wait until the last minute of this match to see a try in the second half. He was scored by Pat Leafa on a carried ball. Maxime Lafage converted into a corner (21-27, 80th) and the RCV had a final ammunition.
Francisco Gorrissen's partners, taking advantage of two Bayonne mistakes, moved up the entire field, but Breton hopes were dashed when Francis Saili was “boxed” by Rodrigo Bruni, within 22 meters of Rowing.
